Business

The former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has insisted that the controversial Malabu oil Block Agreement was endorsed by the previous administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

In an official letter written to his successor and the current Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Adoke, said “I believe it is your responsibility to explain to the public who are being sold a fiction that the transaction started from President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR under whose administration the Terms of Settlement were brokered with Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, as the then Attorney General who executed the Terms of Settlement before the tenure of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR who approved the final implementation of the Terms of Settlement and my humble self who executed the resolution agreements. This is more so as the Settlement and its implementation were situated in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

“Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, your response is crucial because it has become glaring that the actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in respect of the transaction are not in the national interest; but rather in furtherance of a plot to serve the interests of some powerful families and individuals who are aggrieved by my refusal to accede to their requests to compel Malabu to pay them certain sums from the proceeds of its divestment in OPL 245, and the subsequent re-allocation of the Block to Shell/ENI. You will recall that I had on several occasions asserted this fact. I am therefore surprised that a national institution is being used to further the interest of individuals whose claim or shareholding in Malabu remains shady and prefer to engage proxies to fight their battles.”

On the recent filed charges by anti-corruption agency against him and others, Adoke stated that “recent actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to impugn the settlement which was done in the national interest particularly their penchant to suppress facts relating to the transaction and the filing of criminal charges against me for conspiracy/ aiding the commission of Money Laundering offence and the latest allegations of bribe taking reveal very clearly that either your Office and that of the EFCC are not working in harmony or that something sinister is going on.

“Having given you the benefit of the doubt that you would not sponsor deliberate falsehood against me, my suspicion is that there is an orchestrated plot by the EFCC to: deliberately impugn a transaction that has been scrutinized and approved by at least three past Presidents and three Attorneys General; drag my name in the mud and paint me with the tar of corruption in order to attract public odium.”

Adoke also advised the Justice Minister that “As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, you have a public duty to speak on this matter so that Nigerians would know whether I acted mala fide or abused my office in the entire transaction leading to the final implementation of the Settlement. Nigerians need to know whether your predecessors in office from 2006 to May 2015 acted in the national interest when they brokered and implemented the Settlement.

“It will also be instructive for Nigerians to know whether your predecessors were carrying out their personal agenda or that their respective actions were carried out with the knowledge and approval of their respective Principals.

Adoke said “if you find that I had breached my Oath of Office or abused my office, please do not hesitate to bring me to justice. However, if it is the contrary, as I strongly believe, that certain individuals who had vowed to even scores with me are now being aided by state institutions such as the EFCC; I deserve protection from these unwarranted attacks and dehumanising treatment that I am being subjected to merely because I chose to serve my fatherland.”

It could be recalled that the EFCC has filed charges against the ex-minister and some former officials over the Malabu oil deal.

Former military ruler, General Muhammadu Buhari has made history as the first Nigeria’s President from the an opposition political party, even as former President Goodluck Jonathan became the first incumbent president to relinquish power.

The history was made in Nigeria today at exactly 10.55AM when the new President, Muhammadu Buhari, was sworn in.

The event, which is still ongoing at the Eagles Square in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory at the time of this report has past Nigerian leaders as well as other world leaders witnessing the inauguration.

Moments before Buhari was sworn in, Prof Yemi Osinbajo was invited to take his oath of office as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This followed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at March 28, 2015 Presidential election.

Goodluck Jonathan led the country since the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010.

This is Nigeria’s first successful switch of power from a ruling party to an opposition.

Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party has ruled Nigeria since 1999 when the country returned to democracy.

It is also be Buhari’s second time ruling Nigeria. He seized power through a military coup in 1983 but was toppled by another coup in 1985.

Otunba Odebudo OwolabiOtunba Owolabi Odebudo is a seasoned politician that has paid his dues within his short stay in politics. He has been a two time Governorship candidate of two different political parties between 2011 and now. He has also been the Chairman of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) Ogun State Chapter, until the present. He is the Presidential candidate of The Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in the present dispensation until he stepped down for President Goodluck Jonathan whom the DPP had endorsed as their Presidential Candidate in the 2015 presidential election coming up March 28. He speaks in this interview.
EXCERPTS

As the Presidential Candidate of the DPP, why did you agree to step down for President Goodluck Jonathan?

I dropped my ambition in support of President Goodluck Jonathan because of my belief in his sterling qualities as a leader. President Jonathan’s achievements so far in office speaks volume in all ramifications. His record of achievements has surpassed all his predecessors in office. At the present he stands out amongst other Presidential candidates from the various political parties including the APC Presidential candidates Gen. Muhammadu Buhari whose antecedents as a former military ruler were nothing to write home about….read more

Ahead of Nigeria’s general elections, the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, on Sunday, wooed members of the state chapters of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigerian (RTEAN) as he presented 450 Volkswagen Sharan buses to the executive of both unions for onward distribution to their members across the local government areas of the state.

The buses, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor, were meant to serve as palliatives and relief to members of the union in view of the devastating effects of Boko Haram on economic activities in the state.….read more

National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams has said that only President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy can protect the collective interest of the Yoruba nation.

He said that the implementation of the recommendations of the National Confer­ence organized by President Jonathan would largely address the long dream of the Yoruba for a restructured Nigeria.

Otunba Adams made the remarks yesterday when he received the Special Adviser to the Presidency on the Amnesty Programme, Mr Kingsley Kuku in his Lagos home.

The OPC leader enjoined people of the South West not to allow opportunists and those who do not have the interest of Nigeria at heart to deceive them.

He said that the National Coordination Council of the OPC decided to support Jonathan after exhaustive deliberations and conclusion that only his candidacy would make the Yoruba to realize its long dream for restructuring the nation.

His words: “Ten years ago, we of the OPC always shied away from politics but we discovered that if you do not give your people a direction, opportunists and those who do not love this country would cash in on that and misdirect them.

“It is because of that, that we from the National Coordinating Council of the OPC decided to support President Goodluck Jonathan. It is not a decision by Gani Adams alone. We are supporting Jonathan because of the issue of National Confer­ence which will address the needs of the Yoruba nation.

“We have been clamouring for national conference since 1992 but all the past gov­ernments have not been able to organize it.

“Even our kinsman in 2005 organized the National Political Reform Conference and gave the members conditions unlike Jona­than who gave us a blank cheque except on the issue of the unity of Nigeria.

“In 2005, there was a stalemate and we could not complete it. But somebody from the minority in the person of President Jonathan just decided on October 1, 2013 to organize the conference.

“If Jonathan implements the recommen­dations of the conference, Nigeria would become a changed country compared to those who did not want the conference to hold and are clamouring for change.

“You cannot change a nation when you have a bad constitution, a constitution written by one person. Jonathan is a cool headed President fit for our young democracy. Nigeria was last year adjudged number one in Africa. So, what do you want from President Jonathan?”

He urged the Yoruba not to buy into the propaganda of a few politicians who are merely working to further their selfish interest.

Speaking earlier, Kuku commended the Yoruba for their steadfastness, saying that just like in 2011, the region would determine the outcome of the coming presidential election.

He recalled the effort which the Yoruba nation has committed in the struggle to entrench democracy in the nation and noted that Jonathan’s election in 2011 was largely because of the support from the South West zone.

“In 2011, the South West determined the result of the general election. President Goodluck Jonathan won overwhelmingly because of the support from leaders like you (Adams). The South West people were unanimous in their support for Mr President in that election.

“Again, as providence would have it, the South West is going to determine the election on March 28 that will see to the re-election of Mr President for another term of four years.

“It is clear to me that President Goodluck Jonathan’s election and re-election ultimately lies with the South West and it therefore lies with you as one of the leaders that supported him then.

“The South West has contributed so much to the stability of this country. The democracy we have enjoyed from 1999 till date is the sweat, blood and toil of mostly South Westerners and we as South Westerners cannot allow people to mix with wrong elements to derail this democracy at this point.

“We are here to formally once again thank you for providing leadership and to request you to support Mr President Jonathan’s bid for a second term. He is not perfect and there are so many things he could have wanted to do but would not achieve that after one term of four years.

“He has been distracted for three out of the four years. Even at that, his achievements are legendary for people to see in all sectors. I would love to tell you that if this President is given four more years, he is going to take us out of the woods. His next four years would put us on the path of democratic governance and the nation would now be entrenched democratically”.

He said that by 2019 when Jonathan would be handing over to a brand new President, the country would have its pride of place in the comity of nations.

Nigerians who often feel unsafe in Nigeria’s airspace and yet cannot endure a nine-hour road trip between Lagos and Abuja, have received cheery news from the federal government who announced the planned take-off of a three-hour high-speed train project between the two cities.

Announcing this in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, disclosed the federal government’s partnership arrangements with private firms within and outside Nigeria towards the commencement of the project.

Umar made this disclosure at the public presentation of a book, “Showcasing Goodluck Jonathan’s Monumental Strides: A Third Party Perspective,” authored by the Director-General of Citizens Network For Peace and Development in Nigeria, Mr. Dressmann Preye.

According to Umar who also said the Abuja-Kaduna rail project would commence full operation next month, the federal government equally carried out a number of feasibility studies with the plan to construct more standard gauge lines across the country.

He disclosed that the government had also successfully completed feasibility studies in seven new corridors including, the Abuja-Lagos high speed train adding that different private firms within and outside Nigeria have expressed interests in the project.

The project, largely expected to be private sector-driven, according Umar, would formally take-off in 2018,

“The consultants who carried out the feasibility studies have submitted their reports. Part of the report contains the involvement of the private sector to drive the project. This is because we want to develop these lines under a public, private partnership arrangements.

“We have already received a lot of expression of interests even ahead of advertisement for the purpose from various companies in the country and indeed, in other countries of the world.

“The idea is that, if we have this in place, the trains can move from Abuja to Lagos and from Lagos to Abuja in a maximum of three hours. We are intending to compete favourably with other transportation systems in carrying passengers from Abuja to Lagos.

“When fully actualised, a train will leave Abuja to Lagos and Lagos to Abuja, every hour. The feasibility studies had been completed, it is not a question of story. The trains will start running within the next three years, say by 2018.”

He further explained that the federal government had completed the rehabilitation of western rail lines through the administration’s revivalist strategy in the rail transport sector, insisting that Jonathan’s government is working towards the completion of the eastern line.

He said: “At the moment, the trains are moving from Port Harcourt all the way to Gombe – a distance of over 1, 000 kilometres but as soon as the security situation improves around Borno State, we will complete the line from Gombe to Maiduguri.

“While that is going on, we have constructed the standard gauge from Abuja to Kaduna. We have completed the laying of the track and very soon, President Goodluck Jonathan will inaugurate it and by March this year, we are going to commence full operation on that line.

“We have placed orders for the procurement of locomotives and coaches that we are going to deploy on the track. It is a standard gauge. The trains can move on an average speed of 150 kilometres per hour.

“That means that in a maximum of one and half hours, you can leave Kaduna for Abuja and from Abuja to Kaduna by rail. It is the first standard gauge to be completed fully in the whole of West Africa.”

He used the forum to drum support campaign for the re-election of the president for another term of four years, saying his re-election, would offer him the full fledged opportunity to complete the projects in the works.

Also speaking at the occasion, Preye, the author of the book, said the contents were drawn by a team of independent media practitioners as well as representatives of civil society organisations whom he said carried out an on-the-spot assessment of all projects executed by Jonathan’s government.

“I am convinced that this book, will serve not only as a research material but also, a proof that the transformation agenda is working and is yielding fruits,” he claimed.

In his submission, the book reviewer, Dr. Casimir Anyanwu, accompanied by his wife, Senator Chris Anyanwu, said the book embodied the landmark achievements of Jonathan’s government in 15 critical sectors of the economy.

Such areas where he said federal government’s footprints had been visible were macro-economic management strategies; trade and Investment policies; infrastructure development; agricultural transformation; oil and gas industry reforms; power and renewable energy; education and health reforms, among others.

The Director General of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Organisation, Ahmadu Ali says the Fulani socio-cultural group – Miyyetti Allah, the Yoruba socio cultural groups – Afenifere, and Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) have all endorsed the re-election bid of President Jonathan.

He said the North should start grooming a non-dictatorial leader who is between the ages of 40-50 to take over from President Jonathan in 2019.

“I want to tell my fellow Northerners to start grooming a 40-50 year-old candidate that President Goodluck Jonathan will hand over power to in 2019 and not a dictatorial leader who attempted to kidnap my friend late Umaru Dikko. Is that the person you want to vote for? God forbid!” Ali said.

Ahmed Makarfi, a serving Senator, in his remarks said the PDP “will use our power of persuasion to ensure that, PDP is voted on the 14th and 28th of this month.

“I assure you that by this persuasion and consultations by the Vice President, the governor, many stakeholders and I will deliver Kaduna state to PDP,” he added.

The Presidential Campaign Organisation of President Goodluck Jonathan has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of stopping its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari from participating in a presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) as a means of shielding the intellectual laziness and inability of the former military dictator to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate from Nigerians and the international audience.

Jonathan who spoke through the Director of Media and Publicity of his Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, stated that the APC knows that General Buhari will flunk it if he is subjected to the rigours of debate on national issues relating to governance and development.

Jonathan’s Campaign body said it was aware that the APC had already expressed its concerns, when approached by an international news channel for a debate, about the intellectual acumen of General Buhari, and had assured the news channel that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.

“We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

“The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.

“Whilst we will not bother ourselves with the many reasons adduced by the APC, we wish to state that we see the APC decision as an attempt to shield its presidential candidate from displaying his intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.

“We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose General Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it.

“If the APC truly believes that it is ‘a party of progressive intellectuals’, as it claims it should allow General Buhari to prove that at the debate.

“Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.

“We are convinced that General Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.

“We challenge General Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.

“On the other hand, President Jonathan’s running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo, is also ready to participate in the debate and any other debate.

“Our presidential candidate and his running mate will not raise flimsy and escapist excuses such as “unhidden bias” and the like, since we believe that they are well-rounded intellectuals who have been prepared by their experience in office to answer any question under the sun on the governance of our nation.”, Jonathan Campaign group noted.

Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State governorship election, Jimi Agbaje, has lashed out at the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state for trying to make him look bad before the people of the state.

Agbaje expressed his anger at a rally organised at Apapa and Amuwo–Odofin local government areas, adding that rather than resorting to mudslinging, APC should focus on issue-based politics.

Agbaje, who vowed to remain focused in his quest to liberate Lagosians, decried the campaign of calumny against him by the APC.

Apparently referring to the out-going Governor Babatunde Fashola and the APC governorship candidate, with his running mate, Agbaje said, “As you all know, I am contesting against three candidates. One is the puppet, the two others are the puppeteers.

“They have said am too old to govern the state but I still look younger than them. I do not have experience but I want you to know that governance is not about experience but it is qualification.

“So far, we have done two debates, those of you who watched the debate will agree with me that we floored the APC candidate.

“They have resorted to using all manner of ways to portray me in a bad light.

“Recently they said I am a tax evader but only this month, the state government sent me a letter commending me for paying my tax promptly”.

Promising to complete the ongoing Lagos-Badagry express way project, Agbaje berated the state government of using the project as an avenue to siphon fund.

He said, “When they started this road, they told us that the road will be ready by 2012 but as you can see, this road is yet to be completed.

“They plan to toll this road but it is an avenue to get money for themselves.

“I want you to know that they are using this road to siphon money into their pockets. By the grace of God, we shall complete and commission this road”.

He assured that a PDP administration under him would have a human face, saying, “we will not discriminate against anyone, especially the non-indigenes.”

Apparently for want of facts, Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji
Fashola, on Wednesday, urged Lagos residents not to vote the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, because he
is too old to rule the state at 57.
He said his party’s candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has age advantage
to carry on with the task from where he would leave governance in May
29.
Also, the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator
Bola Tinubu, enjoined the people not to vote Agbaje, who he said could
not manage his personal business well.
Both Fashola and Tinubu spoke on Wednesday, at the Lagos West
senatorial campaign of the APC governorship candidate, Mr Akinwumi
Ambode, which took place at Sky Power Play Ground, beside the Nigeria
Police Headquarters, Ikeja.
Agbaje will be 58 years on March 2, having been born in 1957.
Fashola, who did not mention name while addressing the crowd
consisting of leadership of the party, said it was Ambode that had the
wherewithal to govern Lagos as a young, successful accountant.
According to Fashola, the task of governing Lagos State was daunting
and needed vigour on the part of the person at the helm of affairs,
recalling that in 2007 when he took over governance at age 44, he
could count the number of grey hair on his head.
“Today, at 52, I am counting the number of black hair on my head.
Akinwunmi Ambode is the man that can do it. If you put an old man
there, he cannot do it. If you call him in the night, he may not pick
your calls,” he warned.
Fashola described the PDP as termites, always ready to destroy
everything they laid their hands upon, while describing them further
as worse than Ebola virus.
Addressing the gathering, Tinubu, while expressing appreciation to God
for making him discover Fashola and now Ambode as talents suitable to
rule Lagos, said Ambode as the APC candidate was arrived at based on
clamour by youths in Lagos who, he said, demanded they wanted another
youth like Fashola.
Tinubu said true to the promise he made, Fashola had not disappointed
the people of Lagos, adding that his tenure in office could be
described as eight years of unbroken promises.
He called on the people to vote for change by sending President
Goodluck Jonathan packing in February poll.
Tinubu said Lagos was not ready for any experiment, recalling that the
PDP governorship candidate, Agbaje, was with them in the Alliance for
Democracy (AD), but was defeated by better candidates in the party’s
governorship primaries ahead 2007 poll.
He also recalled that Agbaje rejected the offer of deputy governorship
of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before he defected to
contest on the platform of Democratic Party Alliance (DPA) and lost to
Fashola in the general election.
In his address, the APC governorship candidate, Ambode, said it was
certain that the party would win the coming election, promising to run
a government that would not discriminate among the ethnic
nationalities in the state if voted into office in February.
Recall that the outgoing Governor Fashola administration had deported
none Lagosians to their various states in the last six years, the most
controversial was the deportation of over seventy Igbos and dropping
them at bridgehead, Onitsha, Anambra State.

Also, recall that the presidential candidate of the APC will be officially 73

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday during a rally in Enugu said that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), cannot remember his own mobile phone number.

Jonathan, whose unscripted address was mostly a response to previous statements made by Buhari, accused the APC presidential candidate of deceiving Nigerians by promising to revive the economy without explaining how he would achieve the feat.

The President wondered how Buhari would develop the country’s economy, a feat he could not achieve while he was in office as head of state between 1983 and 1985.

“Is it now that Buhari cannot even remember his own phone number that he can change the economy of the country.” Jonathan asked.

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate said that although he did not like to “go personal during campaigns,” “sometimes circumstances demand that certain things must be said.”

Jonathan said that Buhari belonged to the medieval age, adding that he (the APC candidate) intended to run the Federal Government as a medieval king.

He said, “We cannot run the government as if we are in the medieval age; we cannot run a government where somebody said he would throw people into jail.

“You are not a medieval king – a medieval king can throw you into jail but we have to follow the rule of law because we cannot go back to the old days.”

Jonathan, however, read the speech made by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) after overthrowing Buhari’s regime through a military coup on August 27, 1985 to justify his claim that the APC candidate does not keep his promises.

Babangida, in the portions of the address read by Jonathan, justified Buhari’s overthrow by pointing out that the latter did not live up to the promises he made to Nigerians when he ousted a democratically elected civilian government headed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari in a military coup.

Noting that Buhari “deceived Nigerians” from 1983 to 1985, Jonathan quoted Babangida as saying, “The initial objectives of Buhari’s intervention were betrayed as there was a general deterioration of standard of living in the country.”

The PDP candidate also pointed out that Babangida accused Buhari of being “too rigid in his attitude to national issues” and “became alienated from the people” in the course of his stay in power.

He, therefore, challenged Buhari to tell Nigerians how he intends to revive the economy.

Jonathan said, “They are telling young Nigerians that they are going to change the economy but they have not told us how they want to manage the economy more than us.

“If they say they want to change agriculture, they should tell us the weak links in the agriculture value chain and what they want to do about it.

“I said in Lagos that I want to work with young people, not to deceive people.

“I am not going to run the government based on my habits, I am going to run the government according to global best practices.”

Jonathan also insisted that he was committed to the campaign against corruption.

“There is no government that has fought corruption more than we do,” he said, noting that some previous administrations pretended to be fighting corruption while oppressing their enemies.

He recalled that Buhari jailed some prominent Igbo politicians while in office as head of state, including former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo.

Stressing that Buhari jailed politicians on trumped up charges, Jonathan said, “You can no longer carry people and put them in prison for 301 years.”

The President equally accused Buhari of having a wrong idea of corruption.

According to him, Buhari believes that every wealthy Nigerian is corrupt.

He said, “If a Nigerian businessman has a private jet, then you are corrupt but if a South African has a private jet then you commend him.

“If you have a good house, then you are corrupt, if you have a good car then you are corrupt – that is his definition of corruption.”

Jonathan accused his opponent of making spurious claims against him.

The President said, “They are saying that government is corrupt but they are not telling us what they are going to do to stop corruption. Let them go back to their consultants to coach them, then I will listen to them.

“They should tell us how they are going to manage the economy better than we do.

The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, has issued a statement about the Chad-bound aircraft detained by Nigerian authorities at the Aminu Kano Airport in Kano.
In the statement, the ambassador admitted his country chartered the Russian aircraft to help it convey some military hardware from Bangui (Central African Republic) to Ndjamena (Niger).

He, however, said there were no arms and ammunition aboard the plane, contrary to earlier reports on the matter.

The embassy said: “A Russian commercial plane carrying two light Gazelle helicopters belonging to the French Army has unexpectedly landed in Kano on Saturday December 6th, early in the afternoon.

The embassy explained that “On 6 December, the French armed forces had chartered a flight on the Russian commercial company “224 Flight Unit”, to ship 2 light helicopters from Bangui to Ndjamena. The shipment is organized as the size of the French military intervention in CAR is being reduced, as was earlier announced by the French Authorities.

“The cargo airplane, an Antonov 124, had a regular flight plan from Bangui to Ndjamena ; the flight was covered by a diplomatic clearance given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The freight consisted of 2 ‘’Gazelle’’ helicopters (a 4 seater light liaison helicopter) with spare-parts and maintenance items. 2 French military non-commissioned officers escorted the equipment as passengers.

“As the Antonov was approaching Ndjamena, the air traffic conditions were too dense to authorize the landing of the aircraft ; and the Antonov had to divert to an alternate international airport. The closest airport facility being Kano, the Russian crew decided to fly there, to refuel, and to take off again to reach Ndjamena Airport.

“Due to the nationality of the aircraft, and the nature of the cargo, local airport Nigerian authorities in Kano have decided to check the flight plan, the clearance and the cargo manifest before authorizing the plane to leave. Official information has been supplied by the French Embassy in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian federal and airport authorities, being satisfied with the documents and the genuine character of the flight, have announced that the plane will be authorized to pursue its flight to Ndjamena.”

Contrary to some press reports, that former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu-Sheriff was secretly negotiating for the release of the weapons in the grounded plane, there was absolutely no weapon, and no ammunition on board the aircraft.

The use of chartered flights of various nationalities for military cargo transport is a standard international practice : it is used by many nations, and is coherent with commercial competition to reduce the cost of such transport operations. The use of Russian companies to transport French military equipment is common practice.

As for the move of the helicopters between CAR and Chad, it is part of the French effort to support regional cooperation against terrorism, as agreed by the Heads of State of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon during the security Summit held in Paris in May, 2014.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has held that the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has no powers to impose fines on erring motorists.
Trial judge, Justice James Tsoho in his judgement in a suit by a lawyer, Mr Tope Alabi, held that FRSC can not turn itself into a court of law by punishing those who commit traffic offences.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to declare that only a court of competent jurisdiction can pronounce a person guilty under Section 10 (4) and 28 (2) of the FRSC (Establishment Act) 2007 and Regulation 143 of the Nigerian Roads Traffic Regulation, 2011.

The judge declared the sections null and void for being inconsistent with Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also awarded N1 million damages to the plaintiff because FRSC confiscated his vehicle and driver’s licence. “It is my conviction that the plaintiff is entitled to remedy on this account,” he said.

Justice Tsoho said while FRSC is statutorily empowered to arrest and fine traffic offenders, a closer look at the definition of the word “fine” means ‘a pecuniary criminal punishment or civil penalty payable to the public treasury.’

“In the instance case, however, the involvement of the element of arrest takes the imposition of fine by the second defendant (FRSC) to the realm of criminal punishment.

“It is noteworthy that a fine, when viewed from that perspective, is a component of sentence.

“From these definitions, it is obvious that the act of sentencing is a judicial action or exercise. Imposition of fine connotes conviction for an alleged offence. This pre-supposes a trial and conviction of the person fined, especially having regard to the definition of sentencing.

“It is, thus, very clear that the FRSC, not being a court of law, can not impose fine, especially that it has no powers to conduct trial.

“Hence, the exercise of the statutory powers given to the second defendant under the Act as pertain to imposition of fine is clearly a usurpation of judicial powers exclusively vested in the courts,” the judge held.

He further held that FRSC’s imposition of fine on the plaintiff because of his cracked windscreen is illegal.

“In the circumstances, I endorse the plaintiff’s submission that by virtue of S.1 (3) of the Constitution, the power to impose fine conferred on FRSC by the enabling Act is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency with Section 6 of the Constitution,” the judge held.

The judge said though the National Assembly is empowered to make laws, it cannot go outside the limits set by the 1999 Constitution.

“Basically, an unconstitutional legislation is null and void. That is, therefore, the effect of Section 28 (2) of the FRSC Act 2007 which has purportedly conferred power on the second defendant to impose fine, which is a judicial function. Such power is unconstitutional and unenforceable.

“The FRSC is not constitutionally vested with judicial powers and cannot and should not under any guise purport to function as a court, with competence to impose fine on alleged offenders.

“Much as FRSC seems to have passionate zeal for traffic law enforcement, it cannot be allowed to do so in breach of constitutional provisions.

“It is necessary to add that even in respect of strict liability offences, a court of law should appropriately declare the guilt of an alleged offender and then impose fine.

“FRSC’s function should not go beyond issuance of mere notices of offence,” the judge said.

Besides, Justice Tsoho said FRSC resorted to “legislative absurdity” when it imposed a fine of N3,000 on Alabi rather than the N2,000 statutorily prescribed.

“The point must be made that it is a cardinal principle of natural justice that no person be condemned without being heard. It is in observance of this that a person alleged to have committed an offence has to respond to such allegation before a court of law during trial,” he held.

According to the judge, Alabi was issued a notice of offence sheet on April 4 last year, but FRSC did not take him to court for five months before the plaintiff filed his suit on September 9 last year.

“The vital question to ask is how long would the second defendant reasonably take to commence prosecution of a traffic offence? The plaintiff was not under obligation to wait indefinitely for redress due to FRSC’s inaction or laxity,” the judge added.

He said: “I hold the view that confiscation of the vehicle was unnecessary in the first place, though the second defendant (FRSC) spiritedly sought to justify it.

“The seemingly indefinite retention of the plaintiff’s vehicle papers and driver’s licence by officers of the second defendant is totally unreasonable, insensitive and unacceptable.

“The confiscation no doubt deprived the plaintiff of the use of the vehicle for as long as it lasted and also custody of his vehicle papers and driver’s licence.”

The judge granted 11 of the plaintiff’s 14 reliefs, and said he was awarded N1 million rather than the N10 million Alabi prayed for because “FRSC acted under the belief that it was statutorily empowered to so act,” adding that the commission’s innocent mistake “constitutes a mitigating factor as to the quantum of damages.”

The National Assembly, FRSC and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), were the defendants in the suit with reference No. FHC/L/CS/1234/13.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday officially declared Nigeria Ebola free country, even as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan welcomes the declaration which came after 42 days without any incidence of the Ebola Virus Disease.
President Jonathan dedicates the certification to the many patriotic health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians who worked tirelessly, some of them paying the ultimate price, to stop the deadly virus in its track after it entered the country in July this year.

The President seizes this opportunity to also reiterate his appreciation of the contributions of state governments, WHO and other international health organisations, relatives of infected persons and other Nigerians who either courageously underwent the rigours of being quarantined or complied with all directives issued by health authorities to defeat the virus.

He believes that Nigeria’s globally-acclaimed success against Ebola is a testimony to what Nigerians can achieve if they set aside their differences and work together, and calls on Nigerians to strive to replicate the unity of purpose and all-hands-on-deck approach adopted against Ebola in other areas of national life.

As the nation applauds the success of its collective effort to stop the transmission of the Ebola Virus within Nigeria however, the President warns that the entire country must remain fully alert and vigilant against the re-entry of the virus.

President Jonathan fully shares the view expressed by WHO in its congratulatory message to Nigeria that while we have won a battle against Ebola, the war will only truly end when West Africa, Africa and the world are declared free of Ebola.

The President consequently directs that all the anti-Ebola measures taken after the entry of the virus into the country should remain in place and that health officials should continue to actively screen persons entering the country through its air, land and sea borders for any sign of the virus.

He also urges all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State Health authorities.

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Monday nullified the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) which transferred ownership of Newswatch Communications Limited to Global Media Mirror Limited owned by Lagos based businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim.
However, the management of the publication is set to file for a stay of execution of the verdict Tuesday.

Justice Buba in a judgment on a suit filed by some minority shareholders of the news outfit challenging the validity of the takeover of the company awarded N15.7 million damages against the respondents.

The court also ordered a stop to further publications of Newswatch Daily among other reliefs sought by the petitioners.

According to the judge “The Petitioners gave evidence to show that the second to third Respondents have blatantly failed to pay for the Shares in the Company. They have not showed how and when they paid for the said Shares. Nothing in paragraph 11 and 18A of the Respondents’ Statement of Defence shows how they have paid for the Shares. There is no evidence in paragraph 3.0 that the Respondents have paid on or before 5th May, 2011.

“The Respondents have only given their interpretation to that paragraph. Whatever monies they spent was spent on Daily Mirror and was confirmed by DW2 during cross examination. The N510million was supposed to be paid for Shares and not for any other purpose, there is no evidence to show that the Shares have been paid for. Besides, it was a company called “Global Fleet” that paid the N14million, not any of the respondents who contracted with the first respondent.

“The court grants all the reliefs as set out on the petition at the inception of this case as follows: an order setting aside the contract entered into between the first and and Respondent Companies by virtue of document titled “Share Purchase Agreement” between Newswatch Communications Limited “Seller” and Global Media Mirror Limited “Buyer” and executed by the parties therein on or about May, 2011.

“A Consequential Order setting aside the Form CAC2 – Statement of Share Capital and Return of Allotment of Shares of the 1st Respondent company dated the 27th day of August, 2012 presented for filing by one Gloria A. Ukeje.

“An Order directing the 2nd and 3rd Respondent jointly and severally to pay special damages in the sum of N15.7million to the 1st Respondent Company being loss of Business profits since August 2012 till October 2012 when the 1st Respondent’s operations were unilaterally shut down by the 2nd and 3rd Respondents and to pay an average sum of N5million per month for every month that the 1st Respondent is shut down without production of its weekly magazine until the determination of this Suit”, the court held

Justice Buba held that it has come to the inevitable conclusion that the Petitioners have discharged the burden placed on them and have proved their case while the first to fourth Respondents have failed woefully to discharge the burden placed on them.

The court stated that the findings of Justice Okon Abang in his Judgment he earlier delivered in related suit listed as FHC/L/CS/1054/2012 is not a ratio decidendi but an obita, and is therefore not binding on the Court.

It will be recalled that Aruwa and Prof. Aminu had filed the action seeking for an interlocutory injunction restraining the first to fourth respondents by themselves, their agents or privies from publishing and selling to the public or causing to be published and sold to the public a daily and weekend Newspaper known as Daily Newswatch, Saturday Newswatch and Sunday Newswatch as advertised in the National Mirror Newspaper of January 15, 2013 pending the hearing and determination of the substantial suit.

Supported by a 28 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Aruwa, the former shareholders averred that the 2nd and 3rd respondents purportedly came into majority ownership and/or control of the Newswatch Communications Limited by virtue of a Share Purchase Agreement entered into between 1st respondent and 2nd respondent in May 2011.

Aruwa insisted that under and by virtue of clause 3.0 of the said agreement, the 2nd defendant (Global Media Mirror) and the 3rd respondent (Ibrahim) purportedly acquired 51 percent of the first respondents company on the condition that they pay sum of N510million as purchase price for the said shares. He added that by clause 4.0 of the said agreement, the said sum of money was to be paid on or before May 5, 2011.

He stated further that clause 13.0 of the same agreement, the 2nd respondent was obligated to pay additional N500million within 90 days after take-over of the company which was supposed to be for a working capital for the company.

“That without complying fully with aforementioned conditions of the agreement, the 2nd respondent through the instrumentality of the 3rd respondent went ahead and took over full control and management of the first respondent company.

“That to our utter shock and detriment, the 2nd and 3rd respondents simply shut down the operations of the first respondent company, particularly the publication of Newswatch Magazine, which is the flagship and major source business and source of income of the first respondent company and from which we get returns from our investment in first respondent company. The magazine had been in publication for about 28 years before it was stopped by the 2nd respondent and 3rd respondents,” he swore.

He deposed that unless the first to fourth respondents are stopped from carrying out their said intentions, they would have succeeded in killing the business of the first defendant where the plaintiffs have shares and from which they expect dividends for their investment, adding that the first to fourth respondents would have also succeeded in appropriating the entire business of the first respondent to themselves by rendering same redundant and operating the 4th respondent which is owned by them to the detriment of the petitioners.

He said: “It is in the interest of justice that the respondents are called upon to explain and show cause why they cannot wait for the substantive issues herein to be determined before rushing to float the new newspaper despite the fact that it is a live issue in the substantive suit.”

President Goodluck Jonathan has hailed the contributions of the Igbo people, otherwise referred to as Ndigbo in the local parlance, to the development of the country.
In his message to the World Igbo Congress Day, held in Houston, Texas, USA last weekend, copy of which was made available to newsmen in Abuja Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan said: “it is befitting and positively symbolic that the World Igbo Congress of this year is taking place at a time we have just concluded a successful National Conference where your sons and daughters together with other Nigerians gathered to dialogue on ways of moving our country forward.”

He said the Igbo have cut a distinguishing niche in all aspects of our national life in the areas of Education, Sports, Politics, Science and Technology, Literary Excellence, Enterprise, Diplomacy, among others.

The President said “many in Nigeria and elsewhere see mainly your talents in enterprise which clearly stand out, but the Igbo, from our point of view, are much more than that.”

According to Jonathan, “Observers and admirers who see the enterprising nature of the Igbos, cite great Igbo names like Chief Louis Ojukwu, who, legend has it, was the first Nigerian to own a Rolls Royce in Lagos, and of course his equally unforgettable son, our own Ikemba Chief (Dim) Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu!”

He added that “Chief Louis Ojukwu’s amazing life story will need a special telling on another occasion,” saying ” We must also celebrate the first Nigerian to own an ocean going crude oil conveying tanker and engage in the crude oil export trade, Sir Onyechere Anyiam Osigwe.”

According to Jonathan, “ There is much more out of Igbo land! In entertainment, the Oriental brothers, the golden Chief Dr. Oliver De Coque, the stallion Lady Onyeka Onwenu, and many others who all donated their amazing voices and talents to an appreciative Nation as we dance in happiness.

“The great Zik of Africa’s power of leadership example was so captivating it overwhelmed my paternal grandmother to name me after him. So, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I became at birth Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan.”

President Jonathan said the time is now to build on the foundations laid by the elders and leaders in Igboland by adopting technology and planning, so as to deliver better planned functional modern cities that would attract the growing population of the Igbo in the diaspora, so that they can come back and settle to a lifestyle commensurate with what they have helped to develop elsewhere.

He said such planning must integrate and harmonise the industrial and trading activities of entrepreneurs in a way that they become more mutually beneficial and also take advantage of economies of scale and engender a more modern, friendly and comfortable business environment.

President Jonathan listed projects embarked upon by his administration in the South-East, to include the Owerri-Onitsha Road, the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, the Enugu–Port Harcourt road and the Nguju-Edda-Nporo-Ohafia road which cuts across Ebonyi and Abia States.

“ Our hope is that improved budget and Sure-P funding will see quicker action in the months ahead,” the President said.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday thumped his chest for organising a successful national dialogue, saying he meant well for the country and promised to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, which officially closed Thursday.
The president made the pledge Thursday at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, ‎during the closing ceremony of the conference, where he also received the 21-volume report from the conference chairman, Idris Kutigi.

Mr. Jonathan also said the successful conclusion of the conference have proved cynics, who never gave the conference a chance, wrong.

He said some of the recommendations of the conference will be considered by the National Council of State, while the remaining ones will be sent to the National Assembly, the President said while formally receiving the 10,000 pages, conference report, with 600 resolutions.

Jonathan, however, took a swipe on the conference detractors, whom he described as prophet of doom who have been put to shame.

He also pledged that the report would be considered by the council of State before it’s passed to the National Assembly.

Barely two days after the controversial return of Aminu Maigari, the embattled President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, the headquarters located in the Wuse Zone 7 District of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja has been engulfed by fire.
The Federation’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, who confirmed the incident said the cause of the fire outbreak remains unknown at the moment but there was efforts to put it off.

It was gathered that offices of the President, Secretary General and the accounts department might have been affected.

The NFF is currently enmeshed in a leadership tussle with Aminu Maigari and Mike Umeh laying claim to the chairmanship of the football body.

The Federation’s Abuja Secretariat has declared that it was able to rescue some of the trophies won by the national teams from its offices after a blaze swept through the building on Wednesday morning.

Among the trophies saved were the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations trophy won in South Africa and the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup trophy won in the United Arab Emirates.

However, thousands of records and financial documents were lost in the flames which started around 9:30am.

The fire according to the General Secretary Musa Amadu emanated from the left wing of the third floor of the NFF Secretariat.

The inferno burnt down all the documents in the accountant’s office, swept through the office of the general secretary and destroyed most of the documents in the office and in the offices in the left wing of the building.

Amadu described the incident thus: “I think the fire may have started from a power upsurge that happened at about that time. We tried as much as we can, but it is quite unfortunate.

“I have assured you, we are going to reassess those things that have got burnt, and those missing.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the job of the Federation would not be affected in any way, we would continue our normal duties until we get to the root of the whole thing,” he said.

Amadu who was on ground to salvage some of the document in his office, said they were able to rescue most of the trophies won by the country’s national teams.

In his reaction on arrival at the Secretariat at about 11.45 am, NFF President Aminu Maigari gave thanks to God that no lives were lost in the inferno.

“We are grateful to God Almighty that no lives were lost in the fire incident, we are optimistic that we would get over this incident, and I am sure that the security agencies would step in immediately to investigate what had happened,” Maigari told media.

Maigari only returned to work at the Glass House on Monday after several months of intrigues which saw him impeached by the board over allegations of fraud but he was reinstated under the orders of the international football body, FIFA.

Insinuations are rife that the fire might have been caused in order to destroy documents as members of the NFF board are still at loggerheads.

The problems in the NFF have seen contract negotiations with coach Stephen Keshi stall with less than three weeks to the Super Eagles’ opening pair of AfCON 2015 qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

There is an increasing likelihood that the national team could be handled by a temporary coach before an agreement is reached with Keshi who led them to victory last year and took the team to the second round at the World Cup in Brazil.

Meanwhile, the fire was later has been put out but the assistant controller of Fire Service, Eyo Ime, told reporters that they are unable to confirm the cause of the fire at the moment. The Fire Service, however, suspects electrical fault.

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has explained why he dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The former EFCC boss who ran for presidency in 2011 on the platform of the now rested Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, said the opposition party was not better than the PDP.

Ribadu who spoke through his spokesman, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, stated that defecting to the PDP was a personal decision.

He said, “In Nigeria, especially in politics, you can’t say that this is an exclusive party for the people who are thieves or this is for good people.

“It’s just like saying that all Yorubas are this or all Igbos are this. In every group of people, there must be good people and there are bad people. Of course, the good may be more than the bad or the bad may be more than the good in any group.

“But there is no any party that is exclusively for the good people or for the bad people.”

Abdulaziz said, “It is not true that he (Ribadu) was desperate to realise his political ambition. This is because this decision was taken in the overriding interest of serving the people.

“What matters for him is service. That is why even when he was a member of the opposition party, when government asked him to serve the country, he accepted the offer and he did a wonderful job that everybody hailed except those who don’t want change in the system.
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“If you are ready to serve the people, sometimes you will have to do something that is not even palatable to yourself,” he added.